-All of that to take place for a period of three consecutive hours or longer

In short, a blizzard is a reference to visibility, and not necessarily the amount of snow that might or could fall in a particular storm. If you hear that a Blizzard Warning is issued for your location, that means you’re probably not going to be able to see much, if at all.

Technically, snow doesn’t even have to be falling from the sky for a blizzard to officially be taking place. A ground blizzard is when loose snow on the ground gets picked up by strong winds, reducing visibility.

First and foremost, prioritize staying off the roads in a blizzard. Next, because of the strong winds usually associated with a blizzard, be prepared to potentially be without power for a few hours, or perhaps even a few days. Stock up on extra supplies in advance of a blizzard, and think of a nearby location with a generator in case you lose power and heat for a lengthy period of time.

Colorado snow events are often accompanied by strong winds, particularly on the gust-prone eastern plains. The typical setup for a Colorado blizzard usually involves a strong area of low pressure centered in eastern parts of the state or western Kansas. That low location allows the low to pull in enough cold air on the northwest side of the storm, while the low’s strength creates the strong winds that are the hallmark of any blizzard.

Springtime tends to produce the majority of Colorado’s blizzards — think of the March 2016 blizzard that paralyzed Denver with over a foot of snow. Warmer air from the south gets juxtaposed with retreating Arctic air, creating a clash of air masses that helps to strengthen low pressure. It’s also part of the reason why, climatologically, March and April are officially Denver’s two snowiest months of the year.

Before all else, when you hear the term blizzard, think difficult travel. It means that travel is next to impossible, or ill-advised at the very least. This week, a major blizzard is set to slam Colorado with wind gusts that could approach 80 mph.